BAIT. 69 



Deeps, and in places along the line of rocks extending from 

 the Eddystone to Dodman Point, whicli I have already 

 mentioned (p. 8) in my account of the trawling grounds in 

 this neighbourhood. 



The ground fished in mid-cliannel is composed of rubble, 

 the stones being about half the size of a man^s head, or 

 thereabouts, and is locally known as " titi " ground. 



The bulterers can shoot their lines upon this class of 

 ground without fear of being disturbed by the trawlers, the 

 ground being too rough for them. 



Near h.ome, where the exact positions of large rocks are 

 known, and when the weather is clear enough to enable the 

 fisherman accurately to take his marks, the lines are skot 

 as near as possible to these rocks, and probably the finest 

 fish are caught in these spots. 



Fish Caught. — The following fish are those usually caught 

 by this method of fishing: — Conger {Conger vulgaris), ling 

 {Molva vulgaris) J ray and skate {Raia alba, circularis, hatis, 

 and clavata), cod [Oadus morrhua) in small quantities, and a 

 few pollack {Gadus pollachius). 



Bait. — The bait used by bulterers is chiefly squid [Loligo) ; 

 but they also use pilchard, mackerel, herring, garfisli [Belone 

 vulgaris), whiting {Gadtis merlangus) , gurnard {Trigla), chad 

 (the young of Pagellus centra dontus) , bream {Cantharus line- 

 atus), and dogfish {Scyllititn canicula) ; according to the 

 season and in case of scarcity of squid. 



During the spring — about Lent — wken many trawlers are 

 fishing in Mount^s Bay, and there is but a small supply of 

 squid and great competition for what there is to be sold, 

 the bulterers fall back on " fish-baits,'^ and pilchard is 

 perhaps the best of these. 



At this time of year the long-line fishermen even go as 

 far as Falmouth, Mevagissey, Looe, and other ports along the 

 coast to buy bait. 



Price of Bait. — The price of bait varies very greatly. 

 Squid, when very plentiful, may be as low as Qd. a maund, 

 but during Lent has been known as much as 126'. a maund. 

 Pilchard in the same way varies from Qd. to 5s. per 100. 



Amount of Bait Used. — Some idea of the amount of bait 



